Light system for photographic-printing machines



June 10, 1930. F. E. ALTMAN 1,753,208

LIGHT SYSTEM FOR FHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES IN V EN TOR.

Filed Dec. 17, 1926 2 Sheets-sh 1 f El l J5 I x NW N 1 Z4L-- Z5- 1 I w 1J i I 91 1 17 v d E I 18 N #14 Fred E. Alimazv, BY in ATTORNEYS.

June 10, 1930. FE. ALTMAN 1,763,208;

mem svs'rsm FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 17. 1926Z'Sheets-Sheet -2 INVENTOR. Fg eg EAZtmaIv, BY MZKATTORNEYS.

mama 1m 10, 1930 UNITED STATES rm in. Amman, or nocxns'rna, new YORK,assrenon 'ro ms'rm xopaxi coni I ..1,763,-zos

PATENT OFFICE rm, OI ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK vLIGHT SYSTEM FOR PEO'IOGRA PHIO-PRINTING MACHINES Application filedDecember 17, 1928. Serial No. 155,526.

This invention .relates to photography and more particularly tophotographic printing machines. One object is to provide a suitableilluminating system fora hotographic printing machine. Another ob]ect isto provide a machine of the class described with a restricted lightsource from which the light rays pass to the platen with a minimumamount of diffusion. Another object is to rovide a printer with arinting and a piot lamp optically spaced like distances from the platen.Another object is to provide such a lamp system in which the beams oflight rays passing to the platen are of like dimensions difiermg only inactinic quality. Another vobject is to provide a printer in which thelight beams from the pilot and printing lam s are parallel to each otheras the approac the platen, and other objects wil appear from thefollowin specification, the novel'features being pointed out in theclaims at the end thereof. I

Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote likeparts 25 throughout:

Fig. 1 is a part section and part side elevation of a printerconstructed in accord-Q ance with and illustrating one form of myinvention;

I 80 Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showin the mirror used in the printerof Fig. 1; an

Fig. 3 is an enlar (1 detail section showing parts of the mirrorop'eratin mechanism and the relation of the printing pilot a lamps. I

' I-have shown my invention as applied to a printing machine which mayconsist. of a top 1, in which there is mounted a printing panel 2referably of heavy glass, and below 40 which t ere is a frame 3 in wh cha slideway 4 is provided. This slidewa is adapted to receive a screen 5which pre erably consists of a sheet of clearglass.

o The table top 1 is supported by legs 6 and a there 'is a front door '7which may be swung b hinges 8 to access to the chamber 9 which is formby the front door- '7, side wall 10, rear wall 11, and bottom 12.

The chamber 9 is divided into two sections 50 18 and 14 by means of abent partition plate 15 in which there are two windows 16 and 17. Window16 lies just above the pilot lamp 18 so that the centralray 19 from thislamp. may pass up through the, window to the center of the platen'2.This pilot lampmay be of orange or red color or it may be a very lowpower colorless lamp.

The printing lamp 20 is of high power, (500 to 1000 watt beingpreferable) and is adjustable by means of a setscrew 21 and therelatively slidable members 22 and 23 until the lamp filament 24| liesdirectly be- I hind the center of the window 17 The central ra' 25 fromthis lamp ma pass out through the window 17 and may be reflected .by themirror 26 upwardly towards the center of the-printing panel 2. Afterbeing reflected by mirror 26 the light my 25 will coinc'ide with thecentral ray 19 from the lamp 18.

A reflector 90 is preferably employed to 70 increase the effective lightrays. This reflector may be mounted on an arm 91 hinged at 92 to bracket93. If desired, as shown in v Fig. 3, the reflector may be omitted, inwhich case the window 17 is made somewhat smaller.

The lamps 20 and 18 are optically spaced a like distance from theprinting panel 2, and the size andshape of-the li ht beams are the same,the only difference eing that' the light rays from lamp 18 have notsuflicient actinic rays to impress a latent irna e upon hotographicpaper; whereas the 11g t rays rom lamp 20 are of high actimc value.

Inside of compartment 13 a second screen 27 is movably mounted upon theparallel links 28, each of which is pivoted at 29 to the printin'machine frame and at 30 to one arm of the ell crank lever, the otherarm of which 32 supports a shaft 33 upon which the screen 27 is mountedand spring 34 is placed between the parallel links to counterbalance.this screen so that it may be moved up or down between the twopositions shown in Fig. 1, or the screen 27 may be turnedabout shaft 33out of alignment with the light beam, as shown in dot and dashed lines.7

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the light rays from the printing amp 20are reflected by a mirror 26' which is movably mounted upon bracketsinthe following manner. 101

position shown in dashed lines, Fig. 3, by

means of a pair of coiled springs 43, these springs being anchored atone end to a sleeve 44 and being anchored at the other end 46 to thebrackets 35. By turning the sleeve 44 and adjusting the set screw 45 thedesired tension is provided.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rod 40 is attached to one end 50 of the bellcrank lever carried by shaft 51, and having attached at 52 a chain 53, astop 54 limiting the downward movement of the bell crank lever. Chain 53is attached to the joint or pivot 55 of a toggle composed of links 56and 57 The former link being pivoted at 58 to arm 59 and the latter link57 being hinged at 60 to a platen section frame 61. Link 59 is suitablycarried by the bracket 62 upon a shaft 63.

The platen frame consists of two sections 61 and 63'hinged together at64, section 63 being pivotally supported at 65 by a link 66 which mayalso be supported upon shaft 51. Each section of the platen ispreferably faced with a transparent material, such as pyroxylin asindicated at 67 and 68. I prefer to color this pyroxylin orange or redso that the printing operation may be viewed through the platen withoutblinding the eyes of the oper- ,ator because of the brilliancy of thelamp.

The toggle link 57 is extended to form a curved arm 69 to which isafiixed an operating handle 70. Each time this handle is moved to lowerthe platen upon the printing panel the closing movement of the togglepulls up chain 53 which through the bell crank lever and rod 40 swingsmirror 26 against the action of sprin s43 and turn it to the positionshown in igs. 1 and 3, in which the mirror rests upon the bracket 71.This bracket locates the mirror so that the restricted beam of lightfrom the printing lamp 20 will. be passed to the printing panel 2.

When the handle'70 is raised to remove the platen from the printingpanel, chain 53 is released and springs 43 may thus turn mirror 46 untilit lies in the position shown in broken lines, Fig. 3. In this positionthe pilot lamp 18 illuminates the printing panel by means of a beam ofthe same size and shape as the light beam from lamp 20.

It is important to have thelamps arranged to provide light beams of thesame dimensions, the central rays of which are parallel through a partof the distance between the printing panel and lamps; because if theywere spaced differently a vignette placed by means of the light from thepilot lamp would not register properly when the printing lamp is used.By arranging the lamps as above described vignetting material may beplaced through the door 7 2 hinged at 73to the printing machine frameupon the clear glass screen 5. When so placed because of the point lightsource a sharp image of the vignette will result.

If, however, it is desired to soften the edges of the vignette, a groundglass screen 27 may be employed, and the degree of diffusion ofvignetting material carried upon screen 27 can be controlled by movingthe screen upon links 28. The closer the screen is to the lamp, the morediffusion may be obtained.

Since the platen holds the printing paper and negative in contact, thediffusion resulting from screen 27 will not destroy a sharp reproductionfrom a shar negative. However, screen 27 may, as above described, beswung beyond the light beam so that only direct light rays are used forprinting. If such is the case, it is not necessary to obtain perfectphysical contact between the paper and negative because the parallellight rays are used.

Certain features shown in the drawings andmachine and photographicprinter vignetting apparatus, Serial Numbers 153,882 and 153,881 filedDecember 10, 1926.

While I have described my invention as being particularly suited for theprinting machine shown and described, it is obvious that it may also beapplied to printing machines of widely different types, and, I,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the machine shown and described,but claim as within the scope of my invention all such printingapparatus as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel, of a platen movably mounted thereover, a transparent face on saidplaten, a printing lamp spaced from the panel, a pilot lamp spaced fromsaid panel, means for reflecting the light from one lamp into the pathof light from the other lamp, whereby the light beams from both lampsmay pass through the same path before reaching the printing panel, andmeans confining the light rays from both lamps to a beam ofpredetermined size.

2, In a photographic printing machine, the

combination, with a printing panel, of a window.

til)

1 thereover, a printing lam panel, a pilotlamp space from the panel a-to move to and rom the panel, a

, into the path of light from theother lamp,

whereby the li ht beams from both lam s may ass through the same pathbefore reac ing t e printing panel, connections between the reflectingmeans and the platen whereby these parts may be moved in timed relation,both lamps being positioned tn ilh minate the platen with light beamsdifl'ering only in photographic intensity, and means confining the lightrays from both lamps to a beam of predetermined size.

3. In a photographic printing machine, a printing window. two sources oflight. and a. movable shutter for controlling the exposure having twoalternative positions, in one of which it shuts oil light from onesource from saidwindow and in the other of which it shuts of! light fromthe other source from said 4. Ina photographic printing machine,-a

. printing window, a source of actinic light,

a source of non-actinic. light, an opaque movable reflector constitutinga shutter for con,-'

from one source to the windowv and shuts ofl light from theother sourcefrom the window,

and in the other of which it permits light from; said other source toreach said window. and

shuts ofl. light from the one source therefrom.

5. In a printing machine,- the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten movable.- thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the panel, meansspaced from the panel for passing alight beamof limited area upon theprinting panel, a pilot lam and means spaced from the panel for limitingthe light beam from the pilot lamp to. the printing panel to the samearea as that from the printin lamp, whereby the light beams from t 0 twolamps difi'er only in actinic intensity. I

6. In a printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel, of aplaten movable spaced from the distance substantially equal to thespacing of the printing lamp, means for controlling a beam of light raysfrom each lamp to pass through a limiter angle toward the printing am],a movable reflector by which the light am from both lamps is controlled,and means for operating the reflector.

7. Ina printing machine, the combination with a printing anel, of aplaten'adapted ripting lamp and a pilot lamp. eachspaced rom the anel atsubstantially the same distance there'- rom', means for restricting thelight beam anel at an angle from the first of each lamp to apredetermined'degree, and means for permitting a light beam to pass fromonly one lamp at a,t1me to the panel, said light beams being of likedimension and direction.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapted to move 'thereover, a printing lamp spaced from theprinting anel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at su stantially the samedistance from the printing? panel, and a reflector hingedly mounted.neath the panel and (mitioned to lie in the path of light rays rom atleast one lamp and'constituting an exposure shutter whereby the lightrays from the two lamps may transverse-like paths toward the printin rpanel through a art of their course, an may traverse di erent pathsthrough another part of their course toward the printing panel.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced fromthe-printing panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially thesame distancefrom the printing panel, a shutter for controlling exposureincluding a reflector to bend the rays from one lamp towardthe printingpanel, and means for moving the reflector to shut off the rays of onelamp. at a time.

' 10. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of alaten adapted to move thereover, a printing amp spaced from the printingpanel a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distancefrom the printing panel as the, rinting lamp, a reflector hingedlmounted in the machine near the lamps or directing the rays from onelamp toward the printing anel, said reflector constituting a shutter mcontrolling exposure, said reflector being positioned to pass light raysfrom one lamp only to the printing panel. I

11. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapted to move thereover, a rinting lamp spaced from theprinting panel a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the samedistance-from the printing panel as the printing lamp, a reflector, amovable mount therefor, connections between said mount and the platenwhereby the reflector may be moved in timed relation to the platen topass light rays from either lamp to the printing panel. 12. In aprinting machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platenadapted to move'thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the printingpanel, a pilot lamp opti cally spaced at substantially the same distancefrom the printing panel, means to, bend the light rays from one lampinto the pathtraversed by light rays from the other lamp, and meansincluding the light bending means for controlling the emission of lightrays from a lamp to the platen.

13. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapt- 5 ed to move thereover, a printinglamp spaced from theprinting panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the samedistance from the printing panel as the printing lamp, a reflector fordirectin the rays from one lamp towards the printing panel, saidreflector being positioned to pass li ht rays from one lamp only to theprinting panel, connections between the last named means and platenwhereby movement of the platen controls the light rays falling on theprinting panel.

14:. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced from theprinting panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the samedistance from the printing panel, a shutter movable to two positions forcontrolling exposures, in one of which the rays of a lamp is may beobscured from the printing panel and in the other of which the rays of alamp may be passed to the printing panel, and a reflector associatedwith the shutter adapted to bend light rays from one lamp toward theprinting panel when the shutter is in one position.

15. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced 33 from theprinting panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the samedistance from the printing panel, a shutter for controlling exposuremovable to two posi- -tions to control the light rays from the two 40lamps.

16. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of aplaten adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced from theprinting panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the samedistance from the printing panel, a shutter movable to two positions forcontrolling exposure, in one of which the rays of a lamp may be obscuredfrom the printing panel and in the other of which the rays of a lamp maybe passed to the printing panel, and a, re-

flector associated with the shutter ada ted to bend light rays from onelamp towar the printing panel when the shutter is in one position, areflecting surface on said shutter pdapted to bend the light beam fromone amp.

17. In a printing machine, the combinalamps, a reflecting surfacemovablewith said shutter adapted to bend the light beam of one lamp towards theprinting panel when the lamp is in one position, and to bend the lightrays away from the platen when moved to another position.

18. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel, of a platen movable thereover, a printing and pilot lampoptically spaced at substantially equal distances from the printingpanel on the same side thereof, and a shutter for-controlling exposureincluding means for controlling the light beams passing between thelamps and the printing panel.

19. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel, of a platen movable thereover, a printing and pilot lampoptically spaced at substantially equal distances from the printingpanel on the same side thereof, and a shutter for con trolling exposureincluding means including a movably mounted reflector for controllingthe passage of light rays from the lamps .to the printing panel.

20. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel, of a platen movable thereover,-a printing and pilot lampoptically spacedat substantially equal distances from the printing panelon the same side thereof, and a shutter for controlling exposureincluding means movably mounted between the lamps and printing panel forpermitting light rays from one lamp at a time to pass to the printingpanel.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 13th day of December, 1926.

FRED E. ALTMAN.

